Means for providing a watertight connection between boots and trousers



July 22,1952 E. E. GOSSNER 2,603,888

- MEANS FOR PROVIDING A WATERTIGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN BOOTS AND TROUSERS Filed May ll, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR. Louis ERNEST ELWIN GOSSNER July 22, 1952 L. E. E. GOSSNER MEANS FOR PROVIDING A WATERTIGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN BOOTS AND TROUSERS 2 SHEET$SHEET 2 Filed May 11, 1949 INVENTOR.

LOUIS ERNEST ELWIN GOSSNER Patented July 22, 1952 MEANS FOR PROVIDING A WATER/TIGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN BOOTS AN TROUSERS- Louis Ernest Elwin Gossner, San Francisco, Califl, assigno'r to Treg, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a

corporation of California Application May 11, 1949, Serial No. 92,636

'2 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to waterproof garments popularly known as waders and more particularly has reference to a'detachable watertight union for waterproofed trousers and lacetype boots.

So-called waders are available in hip, waist and armpit height, and consist generally of waterproof trousers integrally formed with or Vulcan ized to or otherwise permanently or detachably joined to the tops of rubber. boots.

In the type embodying a detachable union between trousers and boots, the art has previously been limited to such adaptation with short rubber boots only, or with a boot having a top consisting of a continuous uninterrupted circumferential edge without breaks therein.

, Prior to my invention as set out herein, no such detachable watertight union between waterproofed trousers and conventional tongued lace boots with an interrupted circumferential edge has been possible. I

The disadvantages of this limitation are obvious. Previous to my invention it has been impossible to provide a watertight union between conventional tongued Waterproof lace boots and waterproof trousers to convert them into waders. The need for such an adaptation has long been felt by sportsmen, and members of the military establishment. Rubber boots have definite limitations for walking and hiking and continuous wear under allconditions.

There is an extreme need, therefore, to adapt waterproofed military or sportmens boots of the conventional lace type with tongues, to use in combination withwaterproofed trousers, as waders. .The waterproof walking boot can be adapted for use as waders with waterproofed trousersif the teachings of this specification are followed. Under conditions where the wearing of lace-type, waterproof walking boots is necessary and, at the sametime, adaptation of the boot to use as waders is desirable, this invention answers a long felt need.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to provide an accessory for any conventional kind of lace-type, waterproofed boot, whereby, in conjunction with waterproofed trousers, of waist or armpit height, the same may readily and interchangeably be adapted to use as waders.

A further object of this invention is thus to provide means to adapt military, sportsmens, and professional lace-type boots for use as waders in conjunction with waterproofed trousers, under conditions where thewearing of rubber boots is not feasible.

It will become apparent from the following description that the elements forming the subject matter of my invention may be readily used with any type of conventional tongued, laced boot to effect a watertight union between such boot and waterproof trousers.

Oneobject of my invention consists in providing a waterproof cuff of an elastic type on the bottoms of waterproofed trousers, the cuif being designed to fit snugly over and around the top peripheral surfaces of conventional waterproofed lace-type boots with tongues. The said cuffs are adapted to be folded with the tongues of said boots to conform to the folds thereof on the outer surfaces, and in combination with asupporting surface within the boot and a binding means on the outer periphery of the boot, provide a watertight union between the trousers and boot without binding the legs of the wearer.

The actual means for effecting the watertight seal between the trousers and boot'without binding the legs of the wearer may be widely varied, as will become apparent from the further description. It consists in part in providing a metallic band which may be hinged at the rear and is capable of opening and locking in front, and which is of adjustable circumference. This band is designed to be either permanently or detachably connected to the inner periphery of the boot adjacent the top edge thereof. It is designed to be so adjusted that it will not bind the legs of the wearer. The purpose of the band is to receive the pressure exerted around the outer surface of the boot, through any suitable agency, such as a specially constructed outer band to be hereinafter described, or, through the medium of the laces of the boots to prevent such pressure from binding the legs of the wearer.

The tightness of the binding will not affect the legs of the wearer by reason of the support afforded by the inner metallic band so designed that while it will withstand the application of pressure so as to allow a watertight union between trousers and boots being effected, it'will at the same time resist binding the limb of the wearer. my invention may be opened so that the foot of the wearer may readily be inserted and withdrawn from the boot.

It will therefore be understood that my inven tion is in nowise limited to -a specially constructed'waterproof trouser or lace-type boot, but

The said band in the preferred form of Y the boot. I so at once overcome the disadvantages inherent in a rubber type boot for walking purposes and adapt a leather walking boot to immersion purposes with equal utility previously only inherent in the former.

In the drawings forming a partof this specification:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front (partly broken away) showing my invention em-' justable pressure-exerting outer band and constituent elements thereof that may be usedin conjunction with my invention in lieu of boot laces, for effecting a watertight union.

Fig. 5, A and B, are top sectionalyfront and side views, respectively, of the elements of a band shown in Fig. 4.

' Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a boot (unlaced) showing my inner support band mounted therein.

' Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the inner support band from the front.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the innernsupport band from the rear.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top sectional view of the inner support band showing the circumferential adjustment and hinge features thereof.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top sectional view of the inner support band showing the openable front edges thereof closed in juxtaposition.

Fig. 11 is a sectional edge view of an alternative embodiment of a suitable flexible casing, for attachment around the back portion of the inner periphery of a boot to fix the inner support band in position and allow for the removal thereof.

Referring more particularly by numerals to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a conventional lace type waterproof boot, I, intended to represent any type of walking, hunting, engineers or military boot. The boot may be of a type having the sides cut away instead of the front portions as shown, and adapted to be secured together by straps or other binding means;

in lieu of the laces shown.

The boot, I, is adapted to have a end 2, on trousers 3, fitted thereover, and is provided with a tongue, 4, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The tongue, 4, is so joined to the boot that there is a waterproof union between boot and tongue extending to the top edge of the boot. The sides of the tongue and the cutaway edges of the boot tween the lower edges of waterproof trousers and a boot, such a rubber boot having a continuous uninterrupted circumferential top edge, it has previously been impossible to adapt boots with sarily being interrupted by folding when worn. 1

Also, the eyelets or lace catches have precluded a satisfactory smooth peripheral surface being provided to effect such. a desirable watertight union between such.

In the preferred form of my invention I may state I prefer a boot of the variety described in which the eyelets or lace catches are sufficientlyspaced to accommodate an inner supporting band, therebetween. The inner supporting band, 5, is adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the boot as will be later described.

The lower end of the trouser, 3, as shown in Fig. 3 and having a cuff, of waterproof flexible material, 2, attached thereto, is adapted to be fitted over and around thetop; edge of the boot and the cuff folded against the tongue as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The inner supporting band as shownin Figs. 7 and 8, consists of two segments, 7, the ends of which slidably fit flanged supporting ears 8 which are hingedly joined by hinge 9. The bands are adapted to be secured within the respective ears by spring fingers I!) attached to the ears and having tongues I I adapted to extend through apertures provided in the bands, so that there is at once accomplished hinging of the rear of the bands and provision for circumferential adjustment thereof. Bands 1 are appropriately slotted at their extremities, as shown, for adjustability within ears 8.

The ends of the bands 7 are adapted to be juxtaposed when the band is in closed position, and one end is adapted to be fitted into a collar, I2, fixedly attached to the other frontend of the band and having projections, [3, adapted to register with indentations, It, stamped in the collar to permit the band to be locked in position- When inserting or withdrawing the foot from the boot, the band is adapted to be unlocked and opened. The band is preferably fixed within the boot by insertion in a looped'member, l5, composed of any suitable flexible material, as shown in Fig. 11. The material is stitched at I6 and the upper edge thereof is adapted to be attached to the boot by any suitable means such as vulcanizing, sewing, or riveting, and in any position, so that the waterproof character of the boot is not affected. The support band may thus readily be removed from the boot when its use is not desired as'a wader. Locped member l5 may be of any suitable length, either to merely accommodate the rear end of the support band or to extend further around the inner circumference of the boot.

When the cuff on the jtrouser is fitted over and around the top edge of the boot and folded against the tongue as shownin Figs. 1 and. 2, the cufi and boot top and tongue are adapted to be bound in close relationship as by the use of the laces on the boot or by use of a special. binding band as shown in Figs. 5, 5A and 5B. As the open ends of the inner support band 7 do not overlap but are fixed in juxtaposed position, whatever pressure is exerted to bind the boot against the support band will not bind the leg of the wearer, as the support band is adjusted to a suitable circumference to freely accommodate the acoases leg of the wearer and is fixed in this circumference.

The binding band which I have shown in Figs. 5, 5A and 5B, and which may be used in lieu of the laces, consists of suitable flexible strap, ll, overlapped at one end with an adjustable tie, l8, adapted to be secured to an apertured tongue, [9. The other end of the strap is adapted to be secured to one end of a receiving casing, 2|. The adjustable tie, [8, provides for initial adjustment of the length of the strap so as to provide for the proper circumference of the band when the same is attached around the outer surface of a boot.

The receiving casing, 21, has a longitudinal slide member, 22, adapted to slide therein, and formed with shoulders, 23, adapted to engage shoulders at the extremity of the casing to prevent its sliding out of the casing. An upwardly extending tongue, 2 is formed on the slide member 22 and is adapted to engage the apertured band ill, for additional initial adjustment of the length of the strap [1, in conjunction with the tie adjustment.

A walking clamp is mounted on the top of the casing, 2 I, consisting of a lever, 25, pivoted thereto at 21, approximately two-thirds of the distance back from the front edge thereof. The extremity of clamp carries a downwardly extending tongue, 28, adapted to engage the lip, 24, on the sliding plate, 22, extending upwardly through apertured tongue, 19.

Casing 2| is formed with a slight concavity so that the same will be thrown off center when the lever, 25, is depressed and a secure lock of the apertured band, 19, and sliding plate, 22, is effected and at the same time the strap is drawn under tension into a lesser circumference sufficiently tight to effect a watertight union between the boot, tongue thereof and the cuff of the trouser leg. The receiving casing, 2 I, and walking clamp thereon are preferably streamlined to prevent snagging. I

It will be understood that the binding band which fits over the trouser leg about the outer upper periphery of the boot should be so aligned with the inner supporting band as to be concentric therewith in order that the pressure exerted on the boot by the binding band will be taken up by the supporting band rather than by the leg of the wearer, This concentric arrangement of binding band and inner supporting band is necessary to eliminate pressure on the leg.

My invention is susceptible for use with the bottom peripheral edge of any conventional type of Waterproofed trousers. However, I prefer to have attached thereto a cylindrical cuff of waterproof material as described, to eifect a snug, even fit over the tops of lace-type, leather waterproofed boots with tongues, and in the front to be folded in configuration with the folds of said tongues. I thus effect a detachable watertight While I have shown and described the pref-erred .embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a laced boot provided with a frontal opening and a convolute tongue therein, an inner flattened loop disposed adjacent the upper ex= tremity of the boot and circling the inner periphery of the boot and extending forwardly therein to points adjacent but behind the edges of the frontal opening thereof, a rearwardly hinged, front-separable support band slidably disposed within said flattened loop about the inner upper periphery of the boot, a collar. disposed at one of the forward extremities of said support band, means within said collar to removably retain the other extremity of said band therewithin, an outer binding bad designed to fit about the upper outer periphery of said boot over said boot and said support band to form a watertight connection between said boot and the lower extremity of a trouser leg disposed thereover.

2. In a laced boot provided with a frontal opening and a convclute tongue therein, an inner flattened loop afiixed to and circling the inner upper periphery of the boot and extending forwardly therein to points slightly to the rear of the edges of the frontal opening thereof, a rearwardly hinged, longitudinally adjustable and front-separable support band slidably disposed within said flattened loop about the inner upper periphery of the boot, a flattened collar disposed at one of the forward extremities of said support band, retaining means within said collar to hold therewithin the other extremity of said sup- .portband, an outer binding band designed to fit about the upper outer periphery of said boot over said boot and said support band to form a watertight connection between said boot and the lower extremity of a trouser leg disposed there-over.

LOUIS ERNEST ELWIN GOSSNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 446,186 Leck Feb. 10, 1891 869,177 Hathaway Oct. 22, 1907 1,047,398 Farrington Dec. 17, 1912 2,349,264 Grice May 23, 1944 

